What I learned this Summer (mid-term report)

1. That my children can be just as happy (or happier?) in a 800 sq. foot house two doors down from cousins, than in a 2700 sq. foot house thousands of miles away from them.

2. That (gulp) my children sometimes have more fun when I’m not there.

3. That even though I don’t have an institution to my name, or anything of interest to report about my non-existent career, I can hold my own among those with more impressive credentials (unless my kids come down with a stomach flu, and then I’m toast).

4. That it will be a long, long time before I work full-time. I get a nervous twitch when its been 8 hours since I’ve seen my kids.

5. That I love feeling like a historian again, even if it is for a brief time.

6. That touring museums for hours without children is glorious.

7. That I hate coming home and not knowing what my kids’ day was like. It totally sucks.

8. That I should learn how to disable the screensaver pictures of my daughter’s birthday party BEFORE giving a power-point presentation.

9. That my husband keeps me calm. (Well, I already knew that, but his absence made me remember.)

10. That I still don’t know where I will find my balance, or if such a thing is even possible.

11. That I am truly blessed to have had this opportunity and that when I am home again with my kids full-time, I will be truly blessed to have that opporunity. (Okay, I knew that last part already)

12. That it’s fun to meet blogger buddies!!

13. That I will be ready to go home at the end of next week.